Method and system for retrieving print media attributes from a print media database server

ABSTRACT

A method of managing at least one print media database server for print media attributes of print media is disclosed, the method includes hosting print media attributes for a plurality of image forming apparatuses on the at least one print media database server, and wherein the at least one print media database server contains print media attributes for a plurality of print media from one or more manufacturers; receiving, by the at least one print media database server, additional print media attributes from either of the one or more manufacturers and one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses; confirming accuracy of the additional print media attributes; and enabling, by the at least one print media database server, access to the additional print media attributes in the print media database from the plurality of image forming apparatuses, after the accuracy of the additional print media attributes is confirmed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/171,991, filed on Jun. 29, 2011, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method of configuring animage forming apparatus, and more particularly to a system and methodfor scanning and/or obtaining from a package of print media, informationrelated to the print media and using a print media database to retrieveprint media attributes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Physical characteristics (or print media attributes) of print mediainclude such aspects as thickness, weight, color, reflectivity,translucency, capacity to absorb ink or toner, speed at which ink ortoner dries, etc. These characteristics may affect the quality ofprinted output. Accordingly, configuration settings on a printer aretypically adjusted or fine-tuned to produce optimal print quality basedon the values of these physical characteristics.

In addition, one manufactures A4 size paper may have one set of genericphysical characteristics, while another manufactures A4 size paper mayhave a different set of generic physical characteristics. Furthermore,with multi-functional peripheral and other printers (i.e., image formingapparatuses) providing print on demand capabilities, it is common forprinters and/or image forming apparatuses to print on various types ofprint media. Users often customize printers by changing printerconfiguration settings using a user interface. The user interface may beassociated with a print console, print controller, or provided on theuser's computer through a print driver. In addition, the printer can becustomized to suit individual preferences and/or tailored to the task athand.

Print quality is also dependent to a large extent on generic physicalcharacteristics of the print medium used. Today, print media has anumber of variables including thickness of the print media, itstranslucency, reflectivity, and other physical properties impact thequality of print output. Accordingly, printer configuration must also bechanged based on the type of print media being used. Because print mediais typically mass-produced individual variations in mediacharacteristics will be minimal and can be ignored. Therefore, manyphysical media characteristics may be treated as generic for aparticular media product and a printer may be configured appropriately,when that media product is used.

Unfortunately, such configuration changes are not always easy for usersto make. Moreover, given the many types of print media available,selecting the right configuration settings may involve a lot of trialand error leading to a waste of time and resources. Moreover, there isno easy way for a user to determine and/or specify the characteristicsof the print media used so that an optimal configuration setting can bedetermined.

For most image forming apparatuses (i.e., printers) users only need toset paper weight and paper size. However, in the printing business,actually there are many more attributes like paper color, coating, graindirection, printing technology, brightness, CIE (InternationalCommission on Illumination), Tint, whiteness, labColor, etc., which arerequired to obtain the highest quality output. To have all paperattributes correctly entered into the image forming apparatus or copierrequires a certain level of knowledge and training for a user.

In order to make this process easy and accurate for most users toperform, it would be desirable to have a method and system for imageforming apparatus or MFP (multi-function printer), which scans a packagecover and/or barcode on the cover of the package of print media andprocesses the scanned data and matches the package of print media withprint media attributes. The print media attributes are preferablyretrieved from one or more cloud servers that host a print mediaattribute database. In addition, the print media database preferablyserves multiple networked copiers and printers (i.e., image formingapparatuses), which are located all over the world, and which caneffectively provide the necessary print attributes for each and everytype of print and/or paper media.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In consideration of the above issues, it would be desirable to have amethod of determining print media attributes of print media, whichincludes scanning a cover and/or bar code of a package of print media,and retrieving the print media attributes from a print media server,which hosts a database of print media attributes.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method of determiningprint media attributes of print media, the method comprises: obtaininginformation from a package of print media using an image recognitionsystem associated with the image forming apparatus; sending theinformation via a network connection to at least one print mediadatabase server for determination of print media attributes for thepackage of print media; determining the print media attributes of thepackage of print media by matching the information obtained from theimage recognition system to a print attribute database hosted by the atleast one print media database server, the print attribute databasecontaining print media attributes for a plurality of print media, whichare available to a plurality of image forming apparatuses; and sendingthe print media attributes for the package of print media to the imageforming apparatus, which generates printer configuration settings forthe print media.

In accordance with a further exemplary embodiment, a system for printingimages on a plurality of print media, comprises: at least one imageforming apparatus, which determines print media indicia related to apackage of print media, the at least one image forming apparatus havinga memory unit and a print engine connected to the memory unit forforming an image on a print medium; at least one print media databaseserver, the at least one print media server having a processing module,which receives information from the image forming apparatus on theindicia of the package of print media and processes the information todetermine print media attributes for the package of print media; and anetwork connection, which connects the at least one print media databaseto the at least one image forming apparatus.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a computer programproduct comprises a non-transitory computer usable medium having acomputer readable code embodied therein for determining print mediaattributes for print media, the computer readable program codeconfigured to execute a process, the process comprising the steps of:obtaining information from a package of print media using an imagerecognition system associated with the image forming apparatus; sendingthe information via a network connection to at least one print mediadatabase server for determination of print media attributes for thepackage of print media; determining the print media attributes of thepackage of print media by matching the information obtained from theimage recognition system to a print attribute database hosted by the atleast one print media database server, the print attribute databasecontaining print media attributes for a plurality of print media, whichare available to a plurality of image forming apparatuses; and sendingthe print media attributes for the package of print media to the imageforming apparatus, which generates printer configuration settings forthe print media.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method of managing atleast one print media database server for print media attributes ofprint media, the method comprises: hosting print media attributes for aplurality of image forming apparatuses on the at least one print mediadatabase server, and wherein the at least one print media databaseserver contains print media attributes for a plurality of print mediafrom one or more manufacturers; receiving, by the at least one printmedia database server, additional print media attributes from either ofthe one or more manufacturers and one of the plurality of image formingapparatuses; confirming accuracy of the additional print mediaattributes; and enabling, by the at least one print media databaseserver, access to the additional print media attributes in the printmedia database from the plurality of image forming apparatuses, afterthe accuracy of the additional print media attributes is confirmed.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a computer program productcomprises a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computerreadable code embodied therein for managing at least one print mediadatabase server for print media attributes of print media, the computerreadable program code configured to execute a process, the processcomprising the steps of: hosting print media attributes for a pluralityof image forming apparatuses on the at least one print media databaseserver, and wherein the at least one print media database servercontains print media attributes for a plurality of print media from oneor more manufacturers; receiving, by the at least one print mediadatabase server, additional print media attributes from either of theone or more manufacturers and one of the plurality of image formingapparatuses; confirming accuracy of the additional print mediaattributes; and enabling, by the at least one print media databaseserver, access to the additional print media attributes in the printmedia database from the plurality of image forming apparatuses, afterthe accuracy of the additional print media attributes is confirmed.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an image forming apparatus, which receives printdata in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a system, which includes an image formingapparatus and a paper media database server in accordance with anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a system, which includes a print media databaseserver, one or more image forming apparatuses, and one or more hostdevices, wherein the one or more host devices send print mediaattributes to the print media database server.

FIG. 4 is a chart showing print media and corresponding print mediaattributes.

FIG. 5 is flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method ofconfiguring an image forming apparatus for a plurality of print mediausing a print media database server showing the steps as performed inthe image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method ofconfiguring an image forming apparatus for a plurality of print mediausing a print media database server showing the steps as performed bythe print media database server.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers areused in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or likeparts.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a system and method ofdetermining print media attributes for print media using a print mediadatabase server. The following illustrations describe the process ofthis method and a system for implementation thereof.

The methods described herein can be implemented in an image formingsystem 100 that includes a host device 110 preferably in the form of acomputer device, and an image forming apparatus 120 preferably in theform of a multi-functional printer (MFP) connected to the host device110. A typical structure of the system 100 is shown in FIG. 1. Inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment, the host device 110 includes aprocessor 112 and one or more memories 114 for storing software programs116 and data (such as files to be printed). The image forming apparatus(or printer) 120 typically includes a printer controller (or firmware)122, an image processing section (or data dispatcher) 124, a printengine 126, an input/output (I/O) section 128, and a scanner 129.

The controller 122 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a randomaccess memory (RAM), and a read only memory (ROM). The controller 122processes the data and job information received from the host device 110to generate a print image. The controller 122 also includes an operatingsystem (OS), which acts as an intermediary between the software programsand hardware components within the image forming apparatus 120. Theoperating system (OS) manages the computer hardware and provides commonservices for efficient execution of various application software. Inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment, the controller 122 processesthe data and job information received from the client device 110 togenerate a print image.

The image processing section 124 carries out various image processingunder the control of the controller 122, and sends the processed printimage data to the print engine 126. The image processing section 124also includes a scanner section for optically reading a document, suchas an image recognition system. The scanner section receives the imagefrom the scanner and converts the image into a digital image. The printengine 126 forms an image on a recording sheet based on the image datasent from the image processing section 124. The I/O section performsdata transfer with the host device 110. The controller 122 is programmedto process data and control various other components of the imageforming apparatus 120 to carry out the various methods described herein.The print engine 126 forms an image on a sheet of print medium (i.e., arecording sheet) based on the image data sent from the image processingsection.

The input/output (I/O) port 128 provides communications between theprinter section and the host device 110 and receives page descriptions(or print data) from the host for processing within the image formingapparatus 120. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the operationof printer section commences when it receives a page description fromthe host device 110 via I/O port 128 in the form of a print job datastream and/or fax data stream. The page description may be any kind ofpage description languages (PDLs), such as PostScript® (PS), PrinterControl Language (PCL), Portable Document Format (PDF), and/or XML PaperSpecification (XPS). The image forming apparatus 120 also preferablyincludes an auto feeding mechanism or tray 127, wherein a user can feedone or more sheets or pages of a printed image, cover sheet of a packageof print media and/or other documents to the image processing section124 for imaging and processing.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a host device 110 and theimage forming apparatus (or printer) 120 is preferably connected to oneanother via a public telecommunication line and/or a network (e.g., LANor WAN) 130. Examples of the telecommunication line and/or network 130consistent with embodiments of the invention include, but are notlimited to, telecommunication or telephone lines, the Internet, anintranet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) and/or awireless connection using radio frequency (RF) and/or infrared (IR)transmission.

Examples of image forming apparatuses 120 consistent with exemplaryembodiments of the invention include, but are not limited to, amulti-functional printer (MFP), a laser beam printer (LBP), an LEDprinter, a multi-functional laser beam printer including copy function.In accordance with an embodiment, the image forming apparatus 120 is acolor printer or a black and white (B/W) printer. In accordance withanother embodiment, the image forming apparatus 120 is configured as amulti-functional printer (MFP) device or all-in-one (AIO) that includesa printer section for converting print data inputted from outside toimage data and forming and printing out the converted image onto aprintable media, a scanner section for optically reading a document(i.e., an image recognition system), and a facsimile section forfacsimile receiving and transmitting image data to and from externalapparatuses through public telecommunication lines.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a system 200, which includes an image formingapparatus 120 and at least one paper media database server 210 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the papermedia database server 210 is preferably a remote server (i.e., cloudserver), which is connected to the image forming apparatus 120 via anetwork connection such as public telecommunication line and/or anetwork (e.g., LAN or WAN) 130. Examples of the telecommunication lineand/or network 130 consistent with embodiments of the invention include,but are not limited to, telecommunication or telephone lines, theInternet, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN) and/or a wireless connection using radio frequency (RF) and/orinfrared (IR) transmission.

The at least one print media server 210 is preferably a computer likedevice having a processor and one or more memories for storing softwareprograms and data including print media attributes for one or more printmediums. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the at least onepaper media server 210 hosts a print media attribute database 212, whichinclude print media attributes for one or more print mediums. Inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment the print media attributedatabase is preferably periodically updated, or alternatively perrequest of the image forming apparatus 120 and/or print mediamanufacture.

The system 200 also includes an image forming apparatus 120, whichincludes at least one print media tray 127, which holds a print media220. The print media 220 is preferably a paper or paper-like mediahaving one or more print media attributes. The print media attributescan include paper color, coating, grain direction, printing technology,brightness, CIE, tint, whiteness, labColor, etc. In order to maximizeprint quality, the print media attributes of each type of print mediashould be input into a printer configuration settings of the imageforming apparatus to obtain the highest quality output. Most print media220 is provided in reams or other known quantities, which are packagedwith indicia such as information on the manufacture, size, type andother attributes of the print media. In addition, most bundles or reamsof paper include a UPC (Universal Product Code) or bar code, whichidentifies the type of print media including manufacture thereof.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, when a user needs to loadpaper (i.e., a print medium) into the image forming apparatus 120 (i.e.,multi-functional peripheral), the user can scan the cover of the printmedia and/or barcode of the package. In accordance with an exemplaryembodiment, the scanning software associated with the scanning functionof the apparatus, preferably uses an optical character recognition (OCR)function and/or other recognition method to process the indicia and/orinformation, which is sent to the print media server 210 (i.e., cloudserver). Indicia and/or information on the package 220 can includebarcodes, product codes, brands and/or trade names, and/or otheridentifiers of the paper or print media 220. Once the print media server210 (or cloud server) matches the information from the database 212, theimage forming apparatus (or multi-functional peripheral) 120 receivesthe correct paper attributes and/or printer configuration settings fromthe print media database server 210. By hosting the print attributes ona remote server or cloud server 210, the database 212 can servenetworked image forming apparatuses 120 around the world withoutnecessitating user intervention to obtain the print media attributes andprinter configuration settings.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, if the database 212 does notcontain an entry for the newly loaded and scanned print media 220, thesoftware associated with the print media server 210 can extract theattributes from the optical character recognition (OCR) and graphicinformation and request that the print media attributes for the newlyscanned print media 220 be placed within the database 212. In accordancewith an exemplary embodiment, after the correctness of the newly scannedprint media attributes are preferably confirmed by an administrator, atwhich time the print media 220 (or paper) and its attributes can beavailable in the print media database 212 for access by allmulti-functional peripherals (MFPs) connected to the print media server210 (or cloud server).

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a system 300, which includes a paper mediadatabase server 210, one or more image forming apparatuses 310, 312,314, and one or more host devices 320, 322, 324. As shown in FIG. 3,each of the one or more host devices 320, 322, 324 are preferablyassociated with one or more manufactures of print media. Each of the oneor more manufactures preferably sends print media attributes to thepaper media database 212 via a network connection 130. Either the printmedia attribute database 212 and/or the one or more host devices 320,322, 324 can be configured to automatically at a predetermined intervalrequest updates on any and all of the print media attributes, which arestored and hosted on the at least one print media server 210. The atleast one database server 210 is preferably a plurality of databaseservers 210, which are located around the world to provide a pluralityof image forming apparatuses 120 with access to the print attributedatabase 212.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the print media attributesfrom each of the manufacturers, which are downloaded and/or receivedfrom the manufactures is reviewed and confirmed for accuracy andcorrectness before the print attributes are made available to each andevery image forming apparatus 120 within the network of image formingapparatuses. Each of the image forming apparatuses 120 within thenetwork preferably has access to the print media database server 210.

FIG. 4 is a chart of a plurality of print media showing print mediaattributes 400 for each of the print mediums. As shown in FIG. 4 inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment, each of the print mediaattributes 410 (i.e., Paper profile or Media profile) can includedescriptive name and brand, back coatings, brightness, CIE/Tint,CIE/Whiteness, dimensions (or size), engine MID, feed direction, frontcoatings, grain direction, hole type, imagable side, lab color value,media color name, media color name details, preprinted—yes or no,printing technology, product ID (identifier), recycled percentage, stocktype, texture, thickness, and weight.

FIG. 5 is flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method ofconfiguring an image forming apparatus for a plurality of print mediausing a print media database server 210 showing the steps as performedin the image forming apparatus 120. As shown in FIG. 5, in step 510, theinformation from a package of print media is obtained using an imagerecognition system associated with the image forming apparatus. In step520, the information is sent via a network connection to at least oneprint media database server for determination of print media attributesfor the package of print media.

FIG. 6 is flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a method ofconfiguring an image forming apparatus for a plurality of print mediausing a print media database server showing the steps as performed bythe print media database server 210. As shown in step 610, theinformation from the image forming apparatus is received by the at leastone print media database server for determination of print mediaattributes for the package of print media via a network connection. Instep 620, the print media attributes of the package of print media isdetermined by matching the information obtained from the imagerecognition system to a print attribute database hosted by the at leastone print media database server, the print attribute database containingprint media attributes for a plurality of print media, which areavailable to a plurality of image forming apparatuses. In step 630, theprint media attributes for the package of print media is sent to theimage forming apparatus, which generates printer configuration settingsfor the print media. After the step 630, the image forming apparatus mayoptionally accept changes of the print media attributes ascustomization. For instance, the name of the print media may be modifiedas in many print shop environments the print media are given nicknamesto represent their customers who prefer the print media, respectively.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus120 generates printer configuration settings for the package of printmedia using the print media attributes received from the at least oneprint media database server 210. Alternatively, the print media databaseserver 210 can provide the image forming apparatus 120 with printerconfiguration settings corresponding to information provided by imageforming apparatus 120 on the package of print media.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a computer programproduct comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having acomputer readable code embodied therein for determining print mediaattributes of print media. The computer readable program code isconfigured to execute a process, which comprises the steps of: obtaininginformation from a package of print media using an image recognitionsystem associated with the image forming apparatus; sending theinformation via a network connection to at least one print mediadatabase server for determination of print media attributes for thepackage of print media; determining the print media attributes of thepackage of print media by matching the information obtained from theimage recognition system to a print attribute database hosted by the atleast one print media database server, the print attribute databasecontaining print media attributes for a plurality of print media, whichare available to a plurality of image forming apparatuses; and sendingthe print media attributes for the package of print media to the imageforming apparatus, which generates printer configuration settings forthe print media.

The computer usable medium, of course, may be a magnetic recordingmedium, a magneto-optic recording medium, or any other recording mediumwhich will be developed in future, all of which can be consideredapplicable to the present invention in all the same way. Duplicates ofsuch medium including primary and secondary duplicate products andothers are considered equivalent to the above medium without doubt.Furthermore, even if an embodiment of the present invention is acombination of software and hardware, it does not deviate from theconcept of the invention at all. The present invention may beimplemented such that its software part has been written onto arecording medium in advance and will be read as required in operation.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variation can be made to the structure of the presentinvention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present inventioncover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fallwithin the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of managing at least one print mediadatabase server for print media attributes of print media, the methodcomprising: hosting print media attributes for a plurality of imageforming apparatuses on the at least one print media database server, andwherein the at least one print media database server contains printmedia attributes for a plurality of print media from one or moremanufacturers; receiving, by the at least one print media databaseserver, additional print media attributes from either of the one or moremanufacturers and one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;confirming accuracy of the additional print media attributes; andenabling, by the at least one print media database server, access to theadditional print media attributes in the print media database from theplurality of image forming apparatuses, after the accuracy of theadditional print media attributes is confirmed.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the print media attributes includes type and weight of theprint media.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the type of print mediaattributes includes at least one of the group selected from descriptivename, brand name, back coatings, brightness, CIE/Tint, CIE/Whiteness,size, feed direction, front coatings, grain direction, hole type,imagable side, lab color value, media color name, media color namedetails, product identifier, recycled percentage, stock type, texture,and thickness.
 4. The method of claim 1, comprising: hosting the atleast one print media database on a plurality of print media databaseservers.
 5. The method of claim 1, comprising: updating the at least oneprint media database per a request from at least one of the plurality ofimage forming apparatuses.
 6. A computer program product comprising anon-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable codeembodied therein for managing at least one print media database serverfor print media attributes of print media, the computer readable programcode configured to execute a process, the process comprising the stepsof: hosting print media attributes for a plurality of image formingapparatuses on the at least one print media database server, and whereinthe at least one print media database server contains print mediaattributes for a plurality of print media from one or moremanufacturers; receiving, by the at least one print media databaseserver, additional print media attributes from either of the one or moremanufacturers and one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses;confirming accuracy of the additional print media attributes; andenabling, by the at least one print media database server, access to theadditional print media attributes in the print media database from theplurality of image forming apparatuses, after the accuracy of theadditional print media attributes is confirmed.
 7. The computer programof claim 6, wherein the print media attributes includes type and weightof the print media.
 8. The computer program of claim 7, wherein the typeof print media attributes includes at least one of the group selectedfrom descriptive name, brand name, back coatings, brightness, CIE/Tint,CIE/Whiteness, size, feed direction, front coatings, grain direction,hole type, imagable side, lab color value, media color name, media colorname details, product identifier, recycled percentage, stock type,texture, and thickness.
 9. The computer program of claim 6, comprising:hosting the at least one print media database on a plurality of printmedia database servers.
 10. The computer program of claim 6, comprising:updating the at least one print media database per a request from atleast one of the plurality of image forming apparatuses.